Nipple removing tool



y 4, 1965 L. L. NANCE 3,181,396

NIPPLE REMOVING TOOL Filed May '7, 1962 Zuzfier Z. A/0/7ce INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,181,396 NIPPLE REMOVING T001. Luther L. Nance, 12340 Kayla Lane, Houston, Tex. Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,782 1 Claim. (CI. 81-42) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a nipple removing tool.

It is an object of this invention to provide a nipple removing tool for use in removing externally threaded nipples from plumbing fixtures, and the like, without damage to the external threads.

It is another object of this invention to provide a nipple removing tool having novel means for gripping the inside wall of a nipple to permit rotation of the nipple without danger of damage or distortion of the nipple.

It is another object of the invention to provide a nipple removing tool having expansible sections forming a substantially cylindrical externally toothed member when joined, having tapered inside walls in an inner chamber and a mandrel mounted in said joined sections movable against the inside walls of said chamber to expand the sections outwardly against the inside walls of the nipple to move the teeth of the sections into engagement therewith and having means for applying a wrench to the tool to remove the nipple.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention relates to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts more particularly defined in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the tool within a nipple, shown in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional end view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional end view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a plumbing fixture in which a nipple 2 is mounted. A pair of semicircular segments 3, 3 are formed having the outside longitudinal teeth 4 and having an inner chamber having the longitudinally tapered inside walls 5, 5. The segments 3, 3 are reduced at one end to form a wrench receiving area 6 and a groove 7 is formed between the wrench receiving area 6 and the enlarged body of the segments. A cap 8 having an axial port by means of which the cap 8 is mounted on the segments in the groove 7 and is rotatable with relation to the area 6, has the internal threads 9.

The semicircular segments are maintained in alignment forming a substantially cylindrical body by means of the bolts 10, I0 loosely mounted in the ports 11, 11 of the wrench receiving area 6 and a semicircular port is formed longitudinally in the wrench receiving area 6 of each seg' ment, forming a shaft port when the segments are joined.

A tapered mandrel 13, tapered to fit against the inside Bldlfihh Federated May 4, I965 walls 5, 5 of the inner chamber of the segments 3, 3 is provided with an externally threaded shaft 14 extending from the small end thereof, and a nut 15 is mounted on the shaft 14.

The mandrel 13 is mounted in the sections 3, 3 and the shaft 14 extends through the ports 12, 12. When it is desired to remove a nipple, or the like, from a fixture, the nut 15 is backed off of the shaft 14 until the fiat sides of the segments 3, 3 are abutting and the enlarged portion of the segments 3, 3 inserted into the nipple and the cap 8 screwed on to the extended end of the nipple. The nut 15 is then rotated until the mandrel 13 is drawn into the segments 3, 3 against the side walls 5, 5 and the segments 3, 3 spread against the inside wall of the nipple, the cap 8, which is screwed on to the nipple when the segments are first inserted therein, prevents the segments from moving longitudinally, and the longitudinal teeth 4 of the segments gripping the inside wall of the nipple. The user may then apply a wrench to the wrench receiving area 6 and the nipple rotated and removed from the fixture.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred form of the invention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of the invention being defined by the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a nipple removing device, a pair of semicircular segments, longitudinal teeth formed on the outer surface of said segments, said segment-s having an inner chamber having longitudinally tapered side walls, one end of said segments being reduced forming a wrench receiving area and arcuate longitudinal slots in said reduced ends forming a shaft receiving port when the segments are joined, a longitudinally tapered mandrel mounted in said inner chamber, an externally threaded shaft extending from one end of said mandrel and extending through said shaft receiving port, a nut on said shaft bearing against said extended end of said wrench receiving area adapted to draw said mandrel into said inner chamber and spread said segments, said wrench receiving area having an annular groove, a cap having an axial bore by means of which the cap is rotatably mounted on the wrench receiving area and in said groove, said cap being internally threaded and mountable on the nipple to be removed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 456,860 7/91 Spencer 2797 878,457 2/08 Deller 81-72 X 1,058,454 4/ 13 Moores 2792 1,180,758 4/16 Brekke et al. 81-72 1,813,567 7/31 Delorme 8172 2,360,054 10/44 Haas 8172 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

NEDWIN BERGER, MILTON S. MEHR, Examiners. 

